Module 2 : Conduction: One Dimensional

Lecture 5

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2.2 Thermal contact resistance

In the previous discussion, it was assumed that the different layers of the composite have perfect
contact between any two layers. Therefore, the temperatures of the layers were taken same at the
plane of contact. However, in reality it rarely happens, and the contacting surfaces are not in
perfect contact or touch as shown in the fig.2.8(a). It is because as we know that due to the
roughness of the surface, the solid surfaces are not perfectly smooth. Thus when the solid surfaces
are contacted the discrete points of the surfaces are in contact and the voids are generally filled
with the air. Therefore, the heat transfer across the composite is due to the parallel effect of
conduction at solid contact points and by convection or probably by radiation (for high temperature)
through the entrapped air. Thus an apparent temperature drop may be assumed to occur between
T T
the two solid surfaces as shown in the fig.2.8b. If I and II are the theoretical temperature of the
plane interface, then the thermal contact resistance may be defined as,

where Rcrepresents the thermal contact resistance.

The utility of the thermal contact resistance (Rc ) is dependent upon the availability of the reliable
data. The value of Rc depends upon the solids involved, the roughness factor, contact pressure,
material occupying the void spaces, and temperature. The surface roughness of a properly smooth
metallic surface is in the order of micrometer. The values of Rc generally obtained by the
experiments. However, there are certain theories which predict the effect of the various parameters
on the Rc.

It can be seen in the fig.2.8, that the two main contributors to the heat transfer are (i) the
conduction through entrapped gases in the void spaces and, (ii) the solid-solid conduction at the
contact points. It may be noted that due to main contribution to the resistance will be through first
factor because of low thermal conductivity of the gas.
 Fig.2.8 (a) Contacting surfaces of two solids are not in perfect contact, (b) temperature
drop due to imperfect contact

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